Mini Bio (1)

Don Knotts, the legendary television character actor, was born Jesse Donald Knotts on July 21, 1924 in Morgantown, West Virginia, to William Jesse Knotts and the former Elsie L. Moore. He was the youngest of four sons in a family that had been in America since the 17th century.

His first stint as an entertainer was as a ventriloquist, performing paid gigs at parties and other events in Morgantown. He decided to make a stab at a career in show business, moving to New York City after graduating from high school, but he only lasted in the Big Apple for a few weeks. He decided to go to college, enrolling at West Virginia University but, when World War II engulfed America, he enlisted in the United States Army. The 19-year-old soldier was assigned to the Special Services Branch, where he entertained the troops. It was while in the Army that Don ditched ventriloquism for straight comedy.

Don returned to West Virginia University after being demobilized. After graduating with a degree in theater in 1948, he married and moved back to New York, where connections he had made while in the Special Services Branch helped him break into show business. In addition to doing stand-up comedy at clubs, he appeared on the radio, eventually playing the character "Windy Wales" on "The Bobby Benson Show". From 1953 to 1955, he was a regular on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow (1951). Destiny intervened when he was cast in the small role of the psychiatrist in the Broadway play "No Time for Sergeants", which starred Andy Griffith, who would play a large part in Don's future career. Don also appeared in the film adaption of the play with Griffith.

Don's big break before he hooked up again with Andy Griffith was a regular gig on the The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956) hosted by Steve Allen, starting in 1956. He became well-known for his "nervous man" shtick in the "Man-on-the-Street" segments that were a staple of Allen's show. His character in the segments was a very nervous man obviously uptight about being interviewed on camera. He developed this into the fidgety, high-strung persona that he used successfully for the rest of his career.

When "The Tonight Show" moved to Hollywood in 1959 with new host Jack Paar, Don also moved to California as a regular. However, he was soon cast in Andy Griffith's new television series about a small-town sheriff, The Andy Griffith Show (1960), in the role that would make him a legend. For playing "Deputy Barney Fife", Don was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor five times from 1961 to 1967, winning each time.

During the 1970s, Don had a spotty career, appearing in regional theater and making guest appearances on other television series. He eventually made some slapstick movies with Tim Conway for the Walt Disney Company, but it wasn't until the end of the decade that he tasted real success again. He was cast as would-be-swinger landlord "Ralph Furley" on the popular sitcom Three's Company (1977) after the original landlords, "The Ropers", were spun off into their own series. Since the show was canceled in 1984, he appeared as "Barney Fife" for a 1986 reunion of The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and in television guest spots, including a recurring gig as the pesky neighbor "Les Calhoun" on Griffith's Matlock (1986) series until 1992.

He remained busy for the next ten years touring with plays and doing voice-over work for cartoons. In 2005, Don provided the voice of "Mayor Turkey Lurkey" in Disney's animated film Chicken Little (2005). It turned out to be one of his final films. He died at age 81 on February 24, 2006.

Technically was an Army Reservist for one week. After being inducted for World War II service on June 14, 1943, was assigned to the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps on inactive duty. Reported for active duty one week later, on June 21, and was transfered to active duty status in the United States Army.

Veteran of the Second World War who was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with 4 bronze service stars), Army Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Badge (with Carbine Bar) and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

Served in the United States Army, under the service number "35 756 363", from June 21, 1943 to January 6, 1946. Discharged in the rank of Technician Grade 5, which was the equivalent of a Corporal.

Received his Bachelor's degree in Education from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia in 1948.

Don was conceived after his parents had already raised other sons. His father had a nervous breakdown at the prospect of raising another child from birth.

Older brother "Shadow" died of asthma in 1942.

Took an early job plucking chickens for a market when he was told he didn't have a future in acting.

He was the youngest of four brothers. His family life was troubled; Knotts' father twice threatened his mother with a knife and later spent time in mental hospitals, while older brother Earl - nicknamed "Shadow" because of his thinness - died of asthma in 1942 when Knotts was still a teenager.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors' Branch).

Don ceased to be a regular on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) after 1965 because originally, the show's producers had intended to end the series after that year, still at a creative and popular peak. Knotts had already signed a multi-picture deal with Universal Studios when Griffith relented to network pressure and kept his show on the air for several more years. Don said later that he deeply regretted having to leave the show, but his film commitments prevented him from continuing as a cast regular.

His last television role was a guest appearance on the animated series Dave the Barbarian (2004).

He was nominated for a 1973 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for his performance in the play, "The Mind with the Dirty Man", at the Arlington Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 19, 2000.

Made a rare public appearance at the "Ray and Sharon Court's Hollywood Collector's Show" in North Hollywood, California with his The Andy Griffith Show (1960) co-star Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou). He sold autographed pictures and his autobiography book and people waited up to an hour and a half in line to greet him. [April 2000]

Was longtime friends with the late John Ritter. When he was on stage in Kansas City, Missouri, doing "On Golden Pond", he received a phone call about Ritter's death. He attended the funeral on September 15, 2003, just four days after Ritter's death. Before that, Knotts had appeared with Ritter one final time in a cameo on 8 Simple Rules (2002). It was an episode that paid homage to their earlier television series. Knotts was the last Three's Company (1977) star to work with him.

Personal Quotes (7)

Mainly, I thought of Barney as a kid. You can always look into the faces of kids and see what they're thinking, if they're happy or sad. That's what I tried to do with Barney.

We began to do little things, have little scenes where we just talked about things that had nothing to do with the plot. In fact, in the beginning, they didn't want us to do that. But as time went on, you see that in so many shows. I think we were the first to do that.

My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.

Well, they put me in a booth and then did some nice things to the speaker to make it come out sounding okay.

I felt like a loser. I was unhappy as a child most of the time. We were terribly poor and I hated my size.

I don't think actors get good training today. I put my training to use in everything I do.